Te Ara Waiora–Implementing human papillomavirus (HPV) primary testing to prevent cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: A protocol for a non-inferiority trial

Bibliographic Details
Title: Te Ara Waiora–Implementing human papillomavirus (HPV) primary testing to prevent cervical cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: A protocol for a non-inferiority trial
Authors: Melanie Gibson-Helm, Tania Slater, Evelyn J. MacDonald, Kendall Stevenson, Anna Adcock, Stacie Geller, Varsha Parag, Charles Lambert, Matthew Bennett, Merilyn Hibma, Peter Sykes, Marion Saville, David Hawkes, Jo-Ann Stanton, Mary-Ann Clueard, Grahame Jelley, Bev Lawton
Source: PLoS ONE, Vol 18, Iss 3 (2023)
Publisher Information: Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: Background Cervical cancer is caused by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Testing for high-risk HPV is a more sensitive screening method than cervical cytology for detecting cervical changes that may lead to cancer. Consistent with recent evidence of efficacy and acceptability, Aotearoa New Zealand plans to introduce HPV testing as the primary approach to screening, replacing cervical cytology, from mid-2023. Any equitable cervical screening programme must be effective across a diverse population, including women that the current programme fails to reach, particularly Māori and those in rural areas. Currently, we do not know the best model for implementing an equitable HPV self-testing screening programme. Methods This implementation trial aims to assess whether a universal offer of HPV self-testing (offered to all people eligible for cervical screening) achieves non-inferior screening coverage (equal) to a universal offer of cervical cytology alone (the present programme). The study population is all people aged from 24.5 to 70 years due for cervical screening in a 12-month period (including those whose screening is overdue or who have never had screening). A range of quantitative and qualitative secondary outcomes will be explored, including barriers and facilitators across screening and diagnostic pathways. This study takes place in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland which covers a diverse range of urban and rural areas and has a large Indigenous Māori population. A total of fourteen practices will be involved. Seven practices will offer HPV self-testing universally to approximately 2800 women and will be compared to seven practices providing routine clinical care (offer of cervical cytology) to an approximately equal number of women. Discussion This trial will answer important questions about how to implement an equitable, high-quality, effective national programme offering HPV self-testing as the primary screening method for cervical cancer prevention. Trial registration Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 07/12/2021: ACTRN12621001675819.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1932-6203
Relation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10035917/?tool=EBI; https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/c580a5653f3f4c85957d8ef1bd2ea8ba
Accession Number: edsdoj.580a5653f3f4c85957d8ef1bd2ea8ba
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:19326203
Published in:PLoS ONE
Language:English